Ayanna News

Stage Left Theatre announces the upcoming Chicago premiere of Insurrection: Holding History, written by Robert O'Hara and directed by Wardell Julius Clark.

Turner's truTV today announced the premiere date for its upcoming series LAFF MOBB'S LAFF TRACKS, set to debut on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00PM ET/PT.

Grammy Award-winning artists Patti LaBelle and Brodway's Brandy Norwood will guest-star in multi-episode arcs on STAR, beginning this spring on FOX. LaBelle will play Carlotta Brown's (Queen Latifah) tough but loving mother, Christine; and Norwood will play Carlotta's younger sister, Cassie.

Casa Ma ana Theatre presents Santa Claus - A New Musical, sponsored by Frank Kent Cadillac and Macy's as part of the 2017-2018 Children's Theatre season presented by Regions. Tickets are on sale now.

'The middle takes guts. The middle is where you go to sit down with monsters.' The Indiana Repertory Theatre's current Upperstage production, The Originalist, explores that middle, introducing us to a fictional relationship between Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and a liberal law clerk. The play is about the absolutely essential nature of debate. Having the freedom to openly discuss political issues is something we often take for granted in our country as we get lost in the fight. We forget that the person you disagree with doesn't have to be the enemy.

On Tuesday, October 3, THE REAL sits down with Cassandra Merlin and her children, Quincy Chivers and Ayanna Chivers. The family takes us back to that emotional day 9-year-old Quincy was allegedly bullied and hung by New Hampshire neighborhood teens in what Cassandra is calling a hate crime.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to launch its 2017-18 Season with the Chicago premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee James Still's fevered, emotional epic THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK, a theatrical rendering of Abraham Lincoln's struggle as a man of conscience to lead a divided country, directed by SGT Ensemble Member Louis Contey*. THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK will play September 7 - October 21, 2017 at SGT's resident home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Artists Repertory Theatre launches its 2017/18 season with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' provocative An Octoroon. An incendiary satire, this bold start to their 35th theatre season is co-directed by Lava Alapai and Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez.

Artists Repertory Theatre launches its 2017/18 season with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' provocative An Octoroon. An incendiary satire, this bold start to their 35th theatre season is co-directed by Lava Alapai and Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez. An Octoroon is currently in previews for an opening tomorrow, September 9, and the play runs through October 1 on the Alder Stage. BroadwayWorld has a look behind the scenes in the video below!

The cast is made up of Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company Members Ace Anderson (Inherit the Wind, Public Works Dallas The Tempest, A Christmas Carol 2016) as Hud and Tiana Kaye Johnson (HOOD: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure, ELECTRA, A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2016) as Sheila. In addition, the cast includes Monique Abry as Crissy, Kia Nicole Boyer as Jeanie, Jaime Cepero (NBC'S SMASH) as Claude, Ayanna Edwards (DREAMGIRLS) as Dionne, Chris Peluso (London's MISS SAIGON, Broadway's WICKED) as Berger and Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (HOOD: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure) as Woof. The Tribe is made up of Kevin Curtis, Joey Donoian, Kelsey Leigh Ervi, Kyle Igneczi, Valton Jackson, Quintin Jones Jr., Laura Lites, Taylor Nash, Mayte Natalio and Gabrielle Reyes (BELLA: An American Tall Tale, Dreamgirls).

Artists Repertory Theatre launches its 2017/18 season with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' provocative An Octoroon. An incendiary satire, this bold start to their 35th theatre season is co-directed by Lava Alapai and Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to launch its 2017-18 Season with the Chicago premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee James Still's fevered, emotional epic THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK, a theatrical rendering of Abraham Lincoln's struggle as a man of conscience to lead a divided country, directed by SGT Ensemble Member Louis Contey*. 

HGOco, Houston Grand Opera's community collaboration and education arm, has launched the next phase of itsSong of Houston initiative with commissions from two rising composer/librettist teams. Home of My Ancestors, by composer Nkeiru Okoye and librettist Anita Gonzalez, will premiere in March 2019. The not-yet-titled second opera, by composer Nell Shaw Cohen and librettist Megan Cohen, will premiere in March of 2021. A third commission will be announced at a later time. The award-winning Song of Houston is an initiative within HGOco that has been creating new works based on stories that define the unique character of Houston since 2007.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2017 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including Tuvalu, or The Saddest Song by Antoinette Nwandu; This Land Was Made by Tori Sampson; Spin Moves by Ken Weitzman; Tell Them I'm Still Young by Julia Doolittle; Wolf Play by Hansol Jung; and Suspension by Kristiana Rae Colon.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2017 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including Tuvalu, or The Saddest Song by Antoinette Nwandu; This Land Was Made by Tori Sampson; Spin Moves by Ken Weitzman; Tell Them I'm Still Young by Julia Doolittle; Wolf Play by Hansol Jung; and Suspension by Kristiana Rae Colon.

For its 35th anniversary as Portland's premiere mid-size regional theatre company, Artists Repertory Theatre will offer seven gripping, contemporary plays for their mainstage series.  Among these plays are Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winners, the second  Table|Room|Stage commission, The Thanksgiving Play, by Larissa FastHorse, and a limited run of the World Premiere of the epic theatrical event Magellanica, by Portland playwright E.M. Lewis. Artists Rep's FRONTIER SERIES returns for a second season with internationally acclaimed artists from New York, Seattle and Iran.

This weekend, the 5th Annual Afro Latino Festival will take place at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, based in Harlem. Additional satellite programs will also be held in the neighborhoods of DUMBO and Bed-Sty, Brooklyn.

This weekend, the 5th Annual Afro Latino Festival will take place at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, based in Harlem. Additional satellite programs will also be held in the neighborhoods of DUMBO and Bed-Sty, Brooklyn.

Comics Mike Brown (Comedy Outliers) and Ayanna Dookie (She Devil Comedy Festival winner) continue 'King Hippo' their free, weekly Today night comedy showcase and afterparty at The Mockingbird (25 Avenue B) in Manhattan's East Village.

Comics Mike Brown (Comedy Outliers) and Ayanna Dookie (She Devil Comedy Festival winner) continue 'King Hippo' their free, weekly Thursday night comedy showcase and afterparty at The Mockingbird (25 Avenue B) in Manhattan's East Village.